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The director, Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre-JKMPIC, Sheikh Gulzaar planted chinar saplings in JKMPIC, Pulwama here yesterday on Monday. While taking to media persons on the occasion, he said Chinar is a heritage tree of the country and as such is a protected plant. Until 2007, Chinar plantation day was observed on March 21 “World Arboretum Day”. However, keeping in view the magnificent and majestic look and attachment and concern of the people of the country of Kashmir with this tree, state government decided to observe March 15 of every year as Chinar Plantation Day, since 2008.

The director said another advantage of pre-poning the date from March 21 to March 15 is that longer period for plantation. During last two years 12373 saplings of Chinar have been provided free of cost to the people for plantation in different areas of the country Jammu Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre has established nurseries for propagation of Chinar saplings and during current plantation season and 93373 saplings are available for distribution.

Sheikh Gulzaar said that anybody who is interested in plantation of Chinar tree can contact the concerned Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre and obtain Chinar plants.

As per the un-authentic data of 1970, about 42000 Chinar trees of different age groups and sizes were existing in thecountry . But with the passage of time, turmoil, development programmes and population explosion, Chinar trees have faced the brunt of greed like the forest and other plants had to face.

Under such circumstances, JKMPIC took the serious initiative for raising the Chinar saplings for sustained efforts for annual plantation of saplings.

In order to determine the actual number of existing Chinar trees in the Kashmir , a preliminary census was initiated by the Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre from 2002 which was completed in 2008.